Central Lyon County Fire Protection District firefighters mark the opening of a new station June 26, 2023. Provided by Vida Keller
The Central Lyon County Fire Protection District opened Station 32 in Silver Springs and Station 39 in Dayton on Monday.
The Silver Springs crew members began their first day by ceremonially pushing a new fire engine and welcoming their new crew. Dayton’s Station 39 still has to put on some finishing touches, but overall, CLCFPD Chief Rich Harvey called Monday “a super good day” for the communities’ taxpayers.
“We’re opening two stations, we’re currently serving 650 square miles with two stations and extra firefighters and medics,” he told the Appeal. “It’s going to cut everybody’s response time in half. It’s a major improvement in 911 service in Lyon County.”
The stations are a result of the tax levy from the county’s Question 1 from the 2022 ballot, seeking 23 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on all property owners who live within Central Lyon Fire’s boundary for up to 30 years.
“Volunteers aren’t able to keep up with call demands,” Harvey said Monday. “We’ll still use volunteers, but having career staff, it’s such an improvement.”
Harvey added in a statement from the CLCFPD that the hiring and training of personnel and the addition of living quarters have been ongoing since the ballot measure was passed in November.
“We’re excited to see all this hard work pay off to better serve this community,” Harvey said in the statement.